Website Links

Australian Government Departments

Commonwealth Carelink Centres

Back to the Top

New South Wales Government Departments

Back to the Top

Interstate Disability Government Departments

ACT - Department of Education and Community Services

Northern Territory - Aged Disability and Community Care

Queensland - Disability Services Qld

Tasmania - Department of Health & Human Services  

Victoria  - Disability Services Division

Western Australia - Disability Services Commission

Back to the Top

Disability Related Organisations & Associations - National

Action on Disability within Ethnic Communities

Association for Children with a Disability Inc

Australian Cerebral Palsy Association

Australian Federation of Disability Organisations

Australian Psychiatric Disability Coalition

Australian Society for the Study of Intellectual Disability

Education Support Service Inc.

Muscular Dystrohy Association

National Council on Intellectual Disability (NCID)

Spinal Cord Injuries Australia
(previously the Australian Quadriplegic Association)

Vision Australia

Back to the Top

Disability Related Organisations & Associations - NSW

Autism Behavioural Intervention NSW

Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect)

Brain Injury Association of NSW

The Disability Trust

Lead the Way - Animal Assisted Therapy

Mental Health Association NSW

Multiple Sclerosis Society of NSW

Riverlink Interchange

Back to the Top

Disability Related Organisations & Associations - International

Disability Awareness in Action (UK)

Lighthouse International - a resource on vision impairment and vision rehabilitation

Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation

Back to the Top

Disability Information Websites & Directories

Accessibility.com.au
Access Information Supermarket.Information for the use of people with disabilities, their families, carers, seniors, health and design professionals and international visitors.

ACE (Australian Communication Exchange) Australian Deafness Directory
A directory compiled to assist Deaf people and people with Hearing Impairment, their families and friends, and all who work with them.

Carer Resource Centre
The Carer Resource Centre is part of Carers NSW. Carers are people who provide care and support for family members and friends who have a chronic or mental illness, disability or who are frail aged. The Carer Resource Centre staff can assist carers across NSW with information, referrals and emotional support as well as providing resources for Service Providers who are in contact with carers.

Centre of National Research on Disability and Rehabilitation Medicine (CONROD)
knowledge on all aspects of the prevention and management of disabilities.

Commonwealth Carelink Centres
Commonwealth Carelink Centres can provide information to older Australians, their families, carers, general practitioners, other health professionals or anyone else who needs this information.

Connects
'Connects' is a world-wide, interactive, personalized forum for the sharing of information by people whose lives are affected by mental health problems and/or learning disabilities.
This includes people with mental health problems or learning disabilities, their parents, friends, carers, educators and therapists, as well as researchers, legislators and volunteers.

Disability Information Referral Centre (DIRC)
Disability Information & Referral Centre (DIRC) is a non-profit organisation providing a quality information & referral service for people with any kind of disability and their carers in Eastern Sydney covering the local government areas of Botany, Randwick, South Sydney, Waverly, Woollahra and Sydney City.

Disability Now
UK disability site, provides a range of useful information: articles, links, adverts and an archive.

Disability Online
disability information directory

Disability Resources Inc
Contains an extensive database of disability related resources and an on-line guide to disability relateted resources on the internet.

e-bility
Access and links to resources, services and products of interest to people with disability, their families and carers, and service providers in the disability sector

IDEAS
IDEAS provides information on disability about:equipment - services - supplies and accommodation, employment, recreation, communication, education, daily living, transport, library.

NICAN 
provides free national information service on recreation, tourism, sport and the arts to people with disabilities, their families, friends and carers.Website contains an online searchable database.

Penrith Disabilities Resource Centre
provides a local disabilities information and referral service for people with all types of disabilties including their families, carers and advocates for the Penrith region.

State Library of New South Wales - Disability Access Service
include a searchable database of peak disability organisations, specialist employment agencies and a listing of public libraries which hold adaptive technology.

Wheelchair Net
WheelchairNet is a community for people who have a common interest in (or in some cases a passion for) wheelchair technology and its improvement and successful application.

Womens Gateway.
Website for women with disabilities, topics to choose from are events, accommodations services, news, employment, education.

Website offers a range of resources to support carers on the run to balance work and home life. Based in Lismore, this service is an initiative of DAISI, funded by NSW Health Carers Program.

Working with Indigenous Peoples with a Disability
Provides up-to-date information about a wide range of practical resources for allied health professionals and carers working with Indigenous peoples with disabilities living in remote areas of Australia.

Back to the Top

Rights & Advocacy

Disability Advocacy Service Hunter (DASH) Inc.
DASH provides information and advocacy services to both disabled people and their carers. Located in Newcastle, NSW.

Family Advocacy
NSW family advocacy group

Intellectual Disability Rights Service
Provides free legal advice for people with an intellectual disability

Back to the Top

Legal Resources

Legal Aid Help Line
Provides information on Legal Aid policies and services and referrals to appropriate services

NCOSS insurance project
There are a variety of insurances covering the business needs of not—for—profit organisations (‘NFPOs’). The types of insurance taken out and amounts covered generally depend on the activities, assets and funding agreements of your organization.

Social and Community Services Employees (State) Consolidated Award -
Award Code: 783

Back to the Top

Information Technology & Website Accessibility

Bobby
Bobby is a free service provided by CAST to help Web page authors identify and repair significant barriers to access by individuals with disabilities.

Internet Industry Association (IIA) - Web Accessibility Virtual Taskforce

Tech.Soup.org
The technology & IT website designed to assist not for profit organisations.

Back to the Top

Internet Search Engines - International

All the Web

Altavista

Ask Jeeves

DirectHit

Excite

Google

Hotbot

Lycos

Northern Light

Yahoo

Internet Search Engines - Australia

Altavista Australia

Anzwers

Go Eureka

Looksmart

Yahoo Australia

Web Wombat

Back to the Top

Assistive Technology & Equipment

Ability Research Centre.
Ability Research Centre assists people with disabilities to obtain maximum benefits from modern computer technology. Services range from research projects to technical support and training for individuals.

Ability Technology (Abilitytech)
Abilitytech provides a complete computer and home automation service for people with disabilities

Achievable Concepts
Adaptable recreational, sporting products and equipment for people with disabilities and the aged.

Anelcomobil
Suppliers of hi-tech mobility equipment for people with a disability and the transport industry. Provide a range of quality products, unique in their technological design, which are reliable, adaptable and convertible

Australiasian Stairlifts
Australasian Stairlifts offer mobility solutions to people and providers in the way of stairlifts, wheelchair platform lifts and low-rise vertical platform lifts; throughout Australasia.

International Stairlift Resources
Number 1 Stair Lifts
A resource about the various types of home stair lifts, including articles about stair lift manufacturers, a measuring guide for stair lifts and a frequently asked questions section.

Australian Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Association (ARATA) - advancing technology for people with disabilities

Cerebral Palsy League of Queensland - Technology Unit
Guides clients to make informed choices about using assistive technology in a relevant way, to improve their function through collaborative problem solving and exploration of options

Compic
COMPIC is a communication resource created and developed in Australia. It is a library of clear and easily understood drawings, called pictographs, which convey information.

Disability Information Victoria - Equipment Showroom
Links to information and suppliers about aids and equipment for people with physical disabilities, visual impairment, hearing impairment, assistive technology and adapted recreation and sporting equipment for people with a disability.

Disability Mall (US)
Comprehensive website directory bringing together physicians, alternative health care providers, equipment suppliers, manufacturers, distributors.

ELR Software
Includes specialized Web Browser with fully integrated Web awareness, assessment and training modules, designed for Internet training and access for people with special needs

Hot Braille
Hot Braille will braille a letter for you and send it to your friend! You email your letter to Hot Braille and within about 10 days, your friend will receive the letter in braille, and its all free.

Independent Living Centre - ACT Community Care
ACT Community Care provides advice, assessment and access to equipment to enable people with their mobility requirements

Independent Living Centre NSW
Enables people to find out about, and to see and try out, the range of equipment, assistive technology, building and access design, and resources for people living and working with disabilities, injuries and age related difficulties. Website provides a searchable database which contains over 6000 items of assistive equipment.

Independent Living Centre of Queensland
Enables people to find out about, and to see and try out, the range of equipment, assistive technology, building and access design, and resources for people living and working with disabilities, injuries and age related difficulties.

Independent Living Centre of South Australia
Enables people to find out about, and to see and try out, the range of equipment, assistive technology, building and access design, and resources for people living and working with disabilities, injuries and age related difficulties. Website also provides a searchable database of assistive equipment items.

Independent Living Centre of Victoria - Disability Equipment Information System (DEIS)
This site provides the facility for the public to search for disability items and information.

Motor Neurone Disease Association of NSW (MND)
Offers advice on special equipment for people with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) including where to purchase appropriate products and how to obtain them from hospitals and other health service providers. Also supplies equipment on loan to people with MND.

Multiple Sclerosis Society of NSW (MS Society)
The MS Society has rehabilitation services which cover the areas of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, neuropsychology and rehabilitation medicine. The primary role of Rehabilitation Services is to provide an expert support and educational service for people with MS, their carers and to the general community.

The Northcott Society
The Northcott Society includes a resource centre for computer based technology and communication options. Includes advisory sessions, equipment hire, phone information line and Medico-legal Assessments.

PADP Policy
NSW Department of Health Policy on the Program of Appliances for Disabled People (PADP)

Paraplegic & Quadriplegic Association of NSW (ParaQuad)
PARAQUAD Engineering is the agent for a comprehensive range of hoists to lift wheelchairs into or on top of motor vehicles, as well as assisting people into and out of cars. It also has a number of special purpose hoists for use in the home, hospital or pool.

Pulsedata
Pulse Data design technology for people who are visually impaired. Products include the SmartView video magnifier and BrailleNote braille computer which provide access to information and promoting independence.

Quantum Technology
Quantum Technology is an Australian company specialising in the development, manufacture and distribution of technology solutions for people with vision impairment

Regency Park Rehabilitation Engineering
Website contains the Regency Park Rehabilitation Engineering's entire product catalogue. This includes the largest range of Assistive Technology items offered from one source in Australia. Other services listed: repair workshops, Mobility, Seating, Research and Development, Testing Laboratory.

Royal Blind Society (RBS)
Royal Blind Society (RBS) offers advice and support in choosing the best equipment for the task at hand, whether it be a device to assist with pouring a cup of tea, or a computer and software to use at a place of employment.

Spectronics
Spectronics is a supplier of special needs software and assistive technologies. Products include: software, computer access options, switches and accessories, switch adapters and interfaces, switch mounts, environmental controls and books and resources.

TASC (Technology solutions for Computer Access, Seating and Communication) Spastic Centre of NSW.
This service represents the joining together of the Assistive Technology Service(ATS) and CENTEC(seating) to form one larger service. It is an assessment, information and advisory service incorporating seating, powered mobility, and assistive technology options for communication, computer access and environmental control.

Technical Aid to the Disabled (TAD)
TAD NSW is not for profit organisation, which makes custom designed aids for people with special needs (when they are not commercially available). TAD also runs a computer loan service and information service.

Technical Solutions Australia
Technical Solutions makes everything from adapted battery toys, training aids and Environmental Control Systems through to specially adapted computers, speech recognition equipment and brain wave monitoring. Specialising in electronics for people with disabilities

Vision Australia - Technology Access
Technology Access provides independent advice to people with disabilities on the functional application of assistive technology, enabling them to make an informed choice of the best available options to suit their specific needs.

Back to the Top

Employment Resources

ACE
Australian peak body association representing organisations that provide employment assistance and post-placement support to people with disabilities in competitive environments

Australian Employers Network on Disability
A member funded organisation taking a leadership role in advancing employment opportunities for people with disability.

Progressive Employment Personnel Inc.
P.E.P. is dedicated to assisting those with a psychiatric or neuropsychiatric disability to access a range of services enabling them to obtain and retain open employment with ongoing support as required.

Practical Employment Services
Provides a recruitment service for people with a disability

Back to the Top

Education & Training

ABA Materials
At the Early Learning Site, we specialize in multimedia computer software used to develop a child's speech, language and communication skills.

Essentra Training
Courses include Certificates II, III, IV in Community services Competency units · Aged Care · Disability work· Community Work

NSW Department of Education and Training

TAFE NSW

Back to the Top

Access Resources

Access by Design Journal
Information about field of design, disability and the built environment. Regular features are design sheets, building studies, updates on legislation, reports on research and book reviews.

Association of Consultants in Access, Australia Inc  (ACA Aust.)
National membership-based professional association for people working to achieve accessibility of the built environment for people with a disability. It is the peak national body for access consultancy in Australia and a major partner in advancing equity of built environmental accessibility for people with a disability.

Australian Building Codes Board
Develops and manages a nationally uniform approach to technical building requirements, currently embodied in the Building Code of Australia (BCA).

Disability Access Symbols
Disability Access Symbols can be downloaded from this website and used to promote and publicize accessibility of places, programs and other activities for people with various disabilities

ICTA - International Commission on Technology and Accessibility.
The International Commission on Technology & Accessibility (ICTA) supports global promotion and implementation of more equitable and accessible technology and environments.

National Public Toilet Map
Search for accessible public toilets located Australia wide.

Sydney Transport Jumpstation
Check which public transport routes are wheelchair accessible.

Telstra Centre for Accessibility

Back to the Top

Disability Related Journals & News

Access by Design Journal (UK)
Information about field of design, disability and the built environment. Regular features are design sheets, building studies, updates on legislation, reports on research and book reviews.

Abilities Magazine (Canada)
Abilities is Canada's foremost cross-disability lifestyle magazine. It is widely read by people with disabilities, their families, friends and professionals.

Ability Magazine (US)
News and articles for people with a disability

Disability Resources Monthly Newsletter (US)

Disability Tribune (UK)
Covers international Human Rights and Disability

International Disability News Ticker.
Daily breaking news stories from the disability field of work and study

PDCN Advocate
Newsletter produced by The Physical Disability Council of NSW. Covers current affairs and government policy that relate to disability issues.

Back to the Top

Recreation & Arts

Arts Access

Accessible Arts
Develop innovative strategies that engage the arts and disability sectors in positive action towards inclusive cultural practice.

Australian Blind Golfers Association

Australian Deaf Sports Federation

Disability in the Arts, Disadvantage in the Arts Australia (DADAA)
Arts Access Australia (formerly the DADAA National Network)

Disabled Winter Sport

Horticulture Therapy Society of NSW
All about accessible gardening

International Paralympic Committee

Riding for the Disabled Association (NSW)

Sailability Online

Wheelchair Tennis

Back to the Top

Accessible Travel & Accommodation

Access the Best
Disability access guide to the Blue Mountains, NSW

B&B's Suitable for People with a Disability
Provides list of accessible bed and breakfast accommodations around Australia.

Global Access Travel.
Accessible travel for wheelchair users & mobility-impaired people.

Illawarra Easy Access Guide

Project ACTION Accessible Traveler's Database
Search the database for accessible travel around the USA

Wheelabout Van Rentals & Sales Pty Ltd.
Australian based service providing wheelchair accessible vehicle rentals for both long and short term hire.

Back to the Top

Supported Holidays - NSW

Cumberland Retreat
1233 Old Northern Road, Middle Dural NSW 2158.
Email weekendaccommodation@cumberlandretreat.com.au
Phone (02) 9643 4400.

The Cumberland Retreat, a resort-style home on 5 acres at Middle Dural in Sydney has been established by Cumberland Industries Ltd to provide weekend ‘holidays’ for up to 12 people with mild disability, their families and carers. Cumberland Industries Ltd is offering a weekend at the Retreat to people with disability for only $100, which covers all meals, accommodation and activities from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon.

Back to the Top

Accommodation Resources

The Healthy Homes Guide

The Healthy Homes Guide is a comprehensive and practical nutrition and food safety manual designed especially for group homes. The Healthy Homes Guide was developed by a qualified dietitian with input from group homes.

Download the Healthy Homes Guide at www.swahs.health.nsw.gov.au/services/publicaffairs/publications.htm

Enquiries: Karen McCavana, Public Health Nutritionist,
Blue Mountains Hospital. Email: mccavak@wahs.nsw.gov.au
Phone: (02) 4784 6529

Back to the Top